Vehicle-hub



(NoMode L) .J. O. GI-IILCOTE & R. I. BIGLEY.

VEHICLE HUB.

Patented Feb. 23, 1897.

I} Z SJMCCW K a I @Romwfi summon, 0. cv

UNITED STATES JOHN CALVIN CHILOOTE PATENT OFFICE.

AND ROBERT I. BIGLEY, OF SHY BEAVER,

PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE-HUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,508, dated February 23, 1897.

Application filed July 2, 1896. $erial No. 597,821. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN CALVIN CHIL- OOTEand ROBERT I. BIGLEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Shy Beaver, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Hubs; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to those vehicle-hubs which are composed of a numberof separable sections by means of which theycan be taken apart for the purpose of inserting, removing, and tightening the spokes.

The purpose of our invention is to provide a structure of this character which will not only be more simple, cheap, and durable, but can be more readily adjusted and the parts locked and unlocked with greater facility and security.

To this end our invention consists of a hub composed of three separable sections, an inner section adapted to abut against the shoulder of the axle, a middle or spoke section, and an outer or end section adapted to bind and lock the whole together. All of these sections are constructed and held together in the peculiar manner more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the hub. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the screw, spring, and pawl. V

The inner section is represented by the numeral 1, and it consists of a head 2, having squared exterior faces 3 for the reception of a wrench. This head is hollowed to form a hollow flange 4. Cast by preference integral with this head is an elongated cylindrical axle-box 5, over which the other two sections fit. It is provided withexterior screw-threads 6, which extend over a portion of, its surface equal in length to the width of the central section '7. The latter is provided with a central bore 8, having internal screw-threads 9, adapted to engage the screw-threads 6 on the box when the central section is in place. The remaining end of the box is reduced in diameter and provided with exterior sore w-threads 10, which engage internal screw-threads 11 on the outer section 12 when the parts are assembled. This outer section is provided with a series of flat faces 27 for the reception of a wrench. The middle section is also provided with a number of flat faces 14:, which are adapted to receive a wrench for screwing it onto the inner section 1.

In order to prevent the sections from becoming jarred loose after they have been assembled, we provide a peculiar kind of looking device, which will now be described. It consists of an internal pawl 13 on the outer section 12. The free end of the pawl projects into a recess 14, which lies opposite an annular series of ratchet-teeth 15, adapted to be engaged by the pawl when the section 12 is screwed up tightly into place and prevented from unscrewing, the pitch of the ratchetteeth being opposite that of the threads. In order to insure the positive engagement of the pawl with the ratchet, we provide a device for throwing it in and out of engagement and for looking it. This device consists of a screw 15, which passes through the outer section 1.2 in a direction at right angles to the axle. The inner end of this screw is provided with a head 16, connected to the screw by a neck 17. This neck is engaged by the bifurcated end of the pawl, the nose 26 of the latter being located at a point intermediate of its fixed and free ends.

On the outside of the section 12 is a flat locking-spring 18, which sets within a recess 19 and extends transversely over the axle and is adapted to lock the screw against turning. Its free end is provided with a loop 20, which surrounds the screw and lies directly under the head thereof. The resiliency of this spring holds it constantly in contact with the head, and on its upper surface is arranged a plurality of ratchet-teeth 21, over which slides a ratchet-tooth 22, located on the under side of the screw-head and pitched in an opposite direction. When the screw is advanced, it cannot unscrew because the ratchet-tooth will engage one of the teeth ICO on thespring. Consequently when the screw and pawl are once set the pawl is locked by the screw and the screw is locked by the spring.

The middle section is provided with an annular series of partitions 24, common to this character of hubs. Between the open ends of these partitions and the outer section 2 is placed a washer 30, and this washer is pressed against their ends and a shoulder 28 when the outer section 12 is screwed into place.

The putting together of the whole hub can be briefly described as follows: The middle or spoke section is screwed onto the left-hand section 1, and then the spokes are inserted. The outside section 12 should be screwed on, so that it will bear tightly and securely against and hold the tenons of the spokes. When in this position, the locking-screw 15 should be operated to force the pawl 13 into the ratchet, whereupon all the parts will be securely held together without any possibility of working loose. If at any time the spokes should become loose from shrinkage, they can be quickly tightened by screwing up the outer section 12 tightly.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a sectional hub, the combination with a threaded box provided with a ratchet, of a hub-section adapted to screw over the box, a pawl carried by the section and adapted to engage the ratchet, and devices for locking the pawl against withdrawal, substantially as described. I

2. In a sectional hub, and in combination with a detachable hub-section, a box provided with an annular ratchet, a pawl carried on the section, a screw for locking the pawl, and a device for locking the screw, all arranged and adapted to operate as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CALVIN CI-IILCOTE. ROBERT I. BIGLEY. lVitnesses:

II. T. ENTREKIN, Tnos. A. WEsrHooK. 

